Prince Edward Island National Park of Canada

Wildfire Safety Project is Underway in Prince Edward Island National Park

January 18, 2012

Prince Edward Island National Park is taking measures to protect the park and neighbouring lands from the potential spread of wildfire with the continuation of its fuel modification project for the fifth consecutive year. Through the fuel modification project, high risk forest patches will be thinned to reduce forest fire risk and intensity, to create fire breaks and to allow for easy access to forest patches for firefighters.

In 2012, fuel modification will be carried out in Stanhope Campground and along Stanhope Lane. Parks Canada will use a chainsaw crew to manually thin the forest for a five-week period beginning in January. White spruce will be removed from high-density tree stands in the Stanhope area and under-planted with white pine, sugar maple, yellow birch, and red oak in the spring of 2012. The end result will be a forest stand that is more representative of the Island’s native Acadian Forest, which is consistent with the forest management objectives outlined in the PEI National Park Management Plan. 

Fire management is a shared responsibility. The fuel modification project along with the FireSmart program are part of Parks Canada’s integrated approach to fire management to reduce the risk of wildfires and to ensure public safety, employee safety and property protection.

Parks Canada is a proud steward of special places that deserve our appreciation and respect.